BF & returning to FT teaching - ideas please TEACHERS!

[BuckminsterFullerene]

Hello,

I'm returning to full time teaching (secondary) on 1st September when DS will be 24 weeks. He is EBF and I want him to continue exclusively on breast milk (as opposed to formula or cows).

We've prepared as much as possible in terms of practicing expressing & making sure DS will take a bottle of expressed milk regularly.

My issue is with continuing to express at work.

I've spoken to the relevant member of SLT and been told that I can express at break & lunch time. A room has been provided. The problem is that break is 20 mins and lunch is 45 mins. Factoring in tidying-up time & other end-of-lesson admin, and necessary detentions (especially in the first few weeks of term), I don't think I'll have enough time to go across the school, express, and make it back in time to prepare for my next lesson. (I had a practice on a KIT day, it took me more than 30 mins).

I've received my timetable for September, and have 2 full teaching days each week (3 days with 1 hour free each). It would be difficult to change the timetable at this point (I really should have thought of this 6 weeks ago) and, besides, I wouldn't want to split my groups with another teacher.

I've looked at the NUT Maternity Matters document, and their recommended reading on returning to work whilst breastfeeding, but I'm not sure what I can reasonably ask for, or even what might be practically feasible.

Please can you tell me your experiences and ideas.

(I'd like to avoid FF as far as possible at this point, but this is no judgement on anyone else's feeding choice)

just a little bump for any further ideas.

Can't believe I've only got one day left.

Oh, haggis, thanks for your post, it's really reassuring to read a success story!

I think I'll start by pumping at lunch, and see how my boobs cope!

I've been back fulltime teaching for 2 and a half weeks now, DD is 5 and a bit months. In the first week I expressed every lunchtime, the second week I didn't express at all but was leaky by the end of the day, then this week so far I've not expressed nor been leaky. Yay!

Now, if DD would just take a bottle instead of feeding hourly through the night my problems would be solved . . .

Thanks Sarah, I'm expecting DS to reverse cycle a bit too, but hopefully he'll get to grips with the bottle. He's had the odd bottle feed before.

Did your DD take a bottle before?

Annoyingly, my DD did happily take a bottle before. We gave her one at about 3 or 4 weeks with the intention of always giving her the odd bottle just to get her used to it (knowing I'd be back at work when she was 5 months). She took to it so easily that we were a bit lax with keeping it up, and the result was when we actually needed her to take one she refused.

So far I've tried Avent, Tommee Tippee, Nuby and Breastflow bottles. Also have Nuk on order. Breastflow seems to be the winner so far but it's still a battle to get anything into her. I'm trying to start expressing again (she is slightly happier to take expressed milk) as of today but not sure if it'll work now that my supply has gone down during the day.

I also went back to work at secondary school when my dd was 4 months old. It wasn't through choice and it broke my heart. Giving up on breastfeeding was not an option for me as I was already struggling to leave her.
I spoke to my head and laid bare my feelings and he was brilliant.
In the end my dh brought dd to me and I breastfed her at lunchtime, he had an hour whereas I only got 40mins.
It is a different scenario when there is an actual baby involved rather than a breastpump. It worked for me and although it was like a military operation we managed. I missed one registration but because everyone knew where I was there was never a fuss made.
I also know a childminder who brings another member of staff's baby to school at lunchtime for a breastfeed.
I also froze a good supply when my dd dropped the nightfeed.
I actually left after a term of full time for a more flexible job and I did wonder if it would have been practical in the long run, but for the first few months I think you should find SLT supportive. For me, I decided to not pretend or keep up appearances and was just honest, I cant imagine everyone was happy, but no one ever said anything.
I usually fed in the car round the corner from school, although I was fortunate to also a leisure centre and babyroom nearby if needed.

Thanks Monkey, and well done!

I was in work today for inset. DS and DH survived, although DS didn't have much from the bottle. I managed (just about) to pump before school and at lunch. I found I was quite uncomfortable by lunchtime.

It was ok with no kids in, but I expect Monday will be different.

I wish someone could bring DS to me at lunch but home/childminder are 25miles away!

I wonder how his sleep will go tonight...